Mental Health Litigation
The Mental Health Litigation Unit utilizes civil commitment hearings for individuals who have completed their maximum prison sentences but remain a danger to society and meet the statutory definition of sexually violent predators, mentally disordered offenders, or offenders formerly found not guilty by reason of insanity. Commitments are generally for one to two years and are for the purpose of treatment not punishment.
Attention: Sexually Violent Predator Being Released into Sacramento County
BACKGROUND
SVP Program
California law categorizes one segment of sex offenders as Sexually Violent Predators (SVP). California law provides that after they have served their full prison sentence, instead of being paroled, SVPs are committed to the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) for treatment in a secured DSH facility. The period of commitment is indefinite and SVPs must participate in a Sex Offender Treatment Program. The goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of an SVP committing a new sexual offense so they can return safely when they are eventually released to the community as members of society.
California law mandates that trained psychologists evaluate SVPs at DSH on an annual basis to monitor their progress. Once evaluators determine an SVP has sufficiently addressed their risk factors in treatment, and the court finds the same thing has been proven, the next phase is placement in the community for outpatient treatment. Sex offender treatment continues throughout this phase while an SVP re-acclimates to life in the community. An SVP must participate in outpatient treatment for at least one year, and may continue as long as necessary to address risk factors and ensure they are no longer a likely danger to the community.
SVP Community Release in Sacramento County
On July 12, 2024, the Sacramento Superior Court granted a petition to release Christopher Dryden to the community for outpatient treatment, based on the recommendation of DSH evaluators. Mr. Dryden was prosecuted by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office for two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor and convicted of those crimes in 1998, when he was sentenced to state prison for six years. At the conclusion of this state prison commitment, Mr. Dryden was placed at Coalinga State Hospital after the District Attorney’s Office successfully petitioned to have him designated as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP). Mr. Dryden has been in continual custody between his CDCR sentence and subsequent DSH commitment for the past two decades.
As required by legislation passed in 2023, once a court finds an SVP is ready for outpatient treatment, the District Attorney, local law enforcement, County Counsel, and the attorney representing the SVP must collaborate with DSH in a “housing committee” to assist DSH in the process of locating a residence within the county to place the SVP during their outpatient treatment.
DSH’s search for a suitable housing placement has been ongoing for approximately six months. The Sacramento District Attorney’s Office, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office (SSO), and County Counsel have participated in the “housing committee” process and have demanded that public safety be the highest concern. The final recommendation by the Department of State Hospitals and its partner, Liberty Healthcare, is 12655 Hauschildt Rd, Galt, CA 95632 in the Galt area of Sacramento County.
With public safety the foremost priority, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office’s Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) team conducted a thorough site assessment. This property is located within SSO’s jurisdiction, and the Sheriff’s Office is familiar with it based on past placement of SVPs at the location. The site assessment examined the distance from this property to law enforcement stations, medical or emergency services, and schools or educational facilities.
The Department of State Hospitals and Liberty Healthcare have formally recommended the Hauschlidt Road residence to the Court for consideration as an appropriate placement for Mr. Dryden to participate in outpatient treatment as mandated by the law and court order.
As a convicted sex offender, Mr. Dryden must register with the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office under Penal Code section 290 for life. He will also be monitored with a G.P.S. device. To further ensure he is properly supervised throughout outpatient treatment, the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office has also requested that the court include the following in the terms of Mr. Dryden’s release:
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He must comply with any search requested by law enforcement;
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P.S. tracking data must be shared with the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office’s SAFE team;
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Employment information, including work schedule and travel routes, must be continually shared with the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office’s SAFE team.